It Started In Lyme

Borrelia burgdorferi is the bacteria which causes Lyme disease.

But Where Will It End?

In 1975, around Lyme, Connecticut a group of young children were found with a type of arthritis. Arthritis involves inflamed and painful joints and is most commonly associated with older people. So, when young people all in one area started developing this condition, people figured something big must be up, and the hunt was on to figure out what was happening. So what was the cause?

No Duh's and Head Scratchers

Why are researchers concerned that a disease that was unknown before 1975 is now the most commonly reported vector disease? What do they think may be happening?

What are disease vectors? Why is it important to consider that Lyme disease is a vector-bourne illness when trying to figure out what is happening?

What do you think of the evidence that habitat fragmentation has contributed to the spread of Lyme disease? Do you find this evidence convincing? Why or why not? If you are not persuaded, what kinds of information would you like to see?

Can you think of any way to use the different host specific transmission rates to minimize the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi in ticks? How practical do you think an approach like this is? Explain your thinking fully.